Intercept circuit for tape announcer



W. W. PHARIS INTERCEPT CIRCUIT FOR TAPE yKAKINOUIK'T'ER Feb. 16, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 19, 1957 ATTO RNEY w. w. PHARls f 2,925,472

INTERCEPT CIRCUIT FoR TAPE: ANNOUNCER Feb. 16, 1960 s sheets-sheet 2 Filed July 19, 1957 2n- I v RELEASE "Figi DELAYv alo Q RING TRIP Wl l -4l I ANs.BR|DGE l l F RINGING GEN. I clRculT RELEASE W. W. PHARIS INTERCEPT CIRCUIT FOR TAPE ANNOUNCER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 16, 1960 Filed July 19, 1957 'ringtripmeans is in circuitwith.both.talkingconductors.`

y It is'therefore an object of thisirivention .to provide A a tape announcer intercept circuit which, permits use withv I connectors having. ring trip infeither `ground` return or ploying the present invention,

United States Patent-O i Wiuraniw; iilnrisgnbchesfer, N.Y;, assigner te General' Dynamics Corporation, Rochester-1N.Y., acoirporation Y of Delaware v f Apparati-n July r19t, 19157, k'sel-n1, No; '673,935

7claims..,(ci.179-18` inventionrelates to an'intercept. circuit for. a; tape announcer and, more.. particularly,` to. such. anlintercept circuit including'. improved. means therein. forl operating the ringA trip. circuit of a-connector having access. thereto.

In a telephone` exchange having.. an. ultimate capacity ofv a given@ number of lines, a certain portion of these callingL subscriber, a connection-is extended,"from,callingV Y lines at. any given time. may be unassigned or unoccupied` rice Patented renie, 1969 diagram olifA the pertinent details'r ofa preferred.' en'lbod.-y

ment of the invention, andl n Fig.,4'sho|ws themannerinwhich'ligs.. areto. .Y v .'V"bejoined... INTERCEPTCIRCUIT EDR lTAPE ,CER

VReferring new feng, 1', thereisshown a' bick diagram,

ofl aftelephone system utilizing theipresentinvcntion. Iii

responseto Vthe,initiationofacallfrorncallng n subset 160 `one of a, groupofselector'afsuch ats-selector Y 103l which was. preselected by .allotter'l1'041fallj infa'man'.

of one or more vparticular predeterirlined'digitsn bythe' vsubscriber subset 10D-through. selector 1021 'to effect thev seizure of connector 106,v while` in Vresponse to thefdial# ing vby the calling subscriber of one .or `more different predetermined digitsy a connectionVV is extended fromicall'f' ing subscriber .subset 1.00'tlirough` selector 102 jt`o 4eiect thev seizure of connector 110,' againiin arnarulerV well known in the art. Connector I06'lias access-to "a group of called subscriber lines which. employ A.C'. ringingsubsets, while connector IIlfhas iaccessto agroupof called subscriber lines employ superimposedfringing. sub-f sets.

vor unoccupiedterminals. of the connectors of the lexf change for connecting the calngsubscribenwitna tape f announcer. In response to such a connectionJthereto, the tape announcer plays back a. prerecorded. message, such as, You have dialed a, wrong number. Pleaselook up the number in the directory. or callinfermation,

As is well known in the art, a connector includes-means I therein"responsive to a connection. thereof to an idle called subscriber for applyingrnging current and for. op-

y, eratingvring trip means therein'to remove ringing current in response' to the called subscriber answering.hislphone.V When th'e connector extends aconnection. to the tapefannouncer intercept circuit, `described above, rather than 40 `to a line ot'a called subscriber, it is necessary to-provide means for operatingthe ring trip-means in the connector automatically, since no actual answeringatakes place.

As long as all'the connectorsv of. the exchange utilize identical' ring trip circuits, noy ditiicul'tyis,` experienced in providing means in the intercept circuit for tripping. ringing. However, there are telephone exchanges ,whereinl some of the connectors provide ALC. ringing tothe called n subscriber substationsV accessible ,therefronu while: the `remaining connectors provide superimposed ringing-itc the called4 subscriber substations accessible.y therefrom.

nectors `providing A.C. ringing, the hot side ofthe kreturn of theringing generator is usuallyvconnectedfto the tother talking conductor 'through the ring trip means- Furthermore, there are' some connectors inv which the ringing side of the line, or both.V Y,

This and other objects and advantages-of thel'present' As will. be brought out in greater detail below,- in con.-

Assuming r'st a. connection been;extendedf. calling subscriber subset 100 to connector 1`06',.the dialing offene or' more additional'digits .bythe calling subscriber `will usuallyv further. extendthe conncct'ionto oneofthe group, of'A.C.l ringingl subsets accessible from connector mii-.sueltas AiC. ringingsubse'tjlliSg', whereupon connector 106 will apply ringingcurrent fromrin'ging'generator circuit 11'2t'to A;C; ringing subset'ltl'.' Whenthe called vsubscriber answers, ringing will be tripped in connector Y106 and a talking connectionwill' be setup between call-A ing' subscriber" subset 100fand.A.C`.' ringing subset 108. However, should the additional digits dialed.l by the callj ing subscriberbe such asl to extend a connectionfto an unassigned or unoccupied line, rather thanfto onefof the group of A.C.` ringing subsets, intercept circuit'll" beseized, whichin turn will extenda connection to.-tape announcer 118. Tape announcer 118jwillV then-playback a prerecordedmessage to the callingjsubscriber at 'calling` subscriber subseti ;'y I

Assumingnow that a connection has beenY extended from calling subscriber subsetV 100vto`connector 110, the dialing of' additional digits by thecallingA subscriberrwill usually further `extend a connection to one ofagroup of called subscriber lines which' employ.' superirnposedfringingV subsets, such asv superimposed'ringing subset" 112'; whereupon' connector 1'1'0.` will.'connectV ringing current from. ringing ygenerator circuit 1'14 to .I superimposed f ringing. subsetv 112.' Whentle called* subscriber answers superimposed ringing subset 112, ringing will be tripped jin connector 110. and a talking connectionwillz be exinvention will .become apparent fromrthefollowing'detailed description taken'together with the. accompanying v' drawing. in which:

Fig. l is a block diagramcof a telephonesystem ein-rk 'nection with connector' 1 tended :between `calling subscriber' subsetf1'00" andsuper- ,imposed vringing subsetl 112'; ,4 Iff"the callingjsul'iscriber i shouldv 'dial' additionaidigits. whichy extend a connection to'anunassigned orun'occupiedtline', the'conectionwill `be extendedjt').tapeannouncer"118:*tl1iough.intercepfcir-k 'cuitl'lo in thesam'ejmann'er dscrilied'jaboye'incon.. f y

' Referencewilllnow be a f getherjasshown ini* Fig`.f4 ,in" -ordenftb tlieiie-V tailed' structure of intercept"circuiti116,1.a1idv ythe pertinent structure 'of connect ,106 llandfsubsets 108, i

and 112.

v- Consider rs'tja connectionextended'to' ringing v v subset 108 through connector 106iV Infresponseto .the

Figs. 2 and 3 taken-,together arefaschematic and-block .l

yseizure of connector'y 106, release d'elay'rel'ay 210 is operatedin a conventional manneroverja circuitwhi'ch isfnotshown, since it-doesnot formfpart-ofthepre'sent invention. The.' operationv of? release delazy-I relay fzflxi's party lineincluding'AC. ringing subset 108 thereon.` A

busy test is made by a circuit which is not shown but -which is conventional, and if the line is idle switch- .l through relay 230 is operated over a circuit which is not shown ,but is conventional'to eiect the 'closure of normally open contacts 231, 232 and 233 thereof. The closure of contacts 233 app1y abusy marking potential to the lineV circuit'of A.C. ringing subset 10S over termi-l nal S11.v A ringing generator selectionV signal is applied from connector 106 to ringing generator circuit 114 over a conductor from terminalHSll. 1f A.C. ringing suhset 108 isV on a party line employing harmoni-c ringing and connector 106 is of the terminal per station type, the conductor from terminal HS11 to ringing generator circuit 114 is one of a plurality of such'conductors Vconnected from ringing generator circuit 114 to Various HS terminals of theV connector and is utilized to select that one of several ringing generators in ringing generator bridge relay 200 extends from ground through thel upper winding of answering bridge relay 200, operated contacts 225 and 2.31, `the tip wiper of the connector switch, terminal T11, operated hookswitch H21, resistance RG21 of the telephone of sub-set S, terminal R11, the ring wiper of the connector switch, operated contacts 232 and 222, the lower winding of answering Y bridge relay 200 to grounded battery. Answering bridge relay 200 is utilized in a conventional manner to provide reverse' battery supercircuit 114 which supplies'the proper frequency to effect the operation of A.C. ringing subset 108.

The ringing generators in ringing generator circuit 114 have one side thereof connected to either positive or negative battery and the other side thereof connected as shown through the bottom winding of ring trip relay 220, normally closed contacts 223thereof, operated contacts 232 of switchthrough relay 230, the ring wiper of the connector switch, terminal R11, and capacitance C21 and ringer RG21 of A.C. ringing subset 108 to ground. No direct current, but onlypure A.C. from the ringing generator, will ow through this circuit because of the presence of capacitance C21 which blocks direct current. Furthermore, any ux built up in ring trip relay 220 duringthe positive half cycles of the A.C. ringing current will be eount'eracted by the equal and opposite ilux built up during the negative half cycles of the A.C. ringing current.

When the called subscriber answers A.C. ringing subset 108, thereby closing hookswitch H21, resistance RE21 of his telephone forms a bridge between terminals T11 and R11, thus completing a direct current path extending from positive or negative battery, through the ringing generator, the lower winding of ring trip relay 220, normally closed contacts 223 thereof, operated contacts 232, the ring wiper, terminal R11, resistance RG21, operated hookswitch H21, terminal T11, the tip wiper of the connector switch, operated contacts 231, normally closed contacts 224 of Vring trip relay 220 to ground. The direct current flowing in this path causes the immediate operation of ring trip relay 220, which first closes preliminary normally open contacts 221 thereof to provide a holding circuit for ring trip relay 220 extending from ground through operated contacts 211, operated contacts 221, the upper winding'of ring trip relay 220 to grounded battery, and then opens normally closed contacts 223 and 224 thereof and closes normally open contacts 222 and 225 thereof. The opening of normally closed contacts 223 anclV 224 of .ring trip relay 220 breaks the connection between ringing generator circuit 114 and A.C. ringing subset 108` as wellaas .the original operating path for ring trip" relay 220. The closure of normally open` contacts 222 and 225 of ring trip relay 220 completes a talking connectionA between the incoming talking conductors and A.C. ringingrsubset 108 as Well as provides an operating path for answeringbridge relay 200'. This talking connection extends from one incoming talking conductor through `capacitance C22,.operated 'contacts 225 'and 231, they tip wiper of the connector switch,termi nal T11, operated hookswitch H21, resistance RG21 of the telephone of subset 108, terminal R11, operated contacts 232 and 2,22, capacitance C23 to the other incoming talking conductor. ,l Theoperating path for answering vision over a circuit which is not shown but is ywellknown in the art. r Y

Consider now a connection through connector 110 to superimposed ringing subset ;112. In response to the seizure of'connector 110 release delay relay 250 isoperated over a circuit which is not shown but which is conventional in the art. The operation of release delay relay 250 eifects the closure of normally open contacts 251 thereof. In response to the dialing of the additional digits to effect a connection of connector 110 with'a party line including superimposed ringing subset 112 thereomand after making a busy test by means of a circuit which isk not shown, switchthrough relay 270 is operated by a circuit not shown but which is conventional in the art. The operation of switchthrough relay 270 is effective in closing normally open contacts 271, 272 and 273 thereof.

The connection of th e hunt sleeve wiper to terminal H822 applies a marking signal over a conductor to ring-l ing generator circuit 114 which selects a ringing generator inl ringingv generator `114i having one side thereof connected to negative battery. If the additional digits dialed into connector 1l10`had connected connector 110 with another subset (not shown) on the same line as subset 112, the conductor from the HS terminal of this other subset would have caused another ringing generator in ringing generatorv circuit 114 having positive battery counected to one side thereof to be selected. v

In any case, the other side of the selected ringing generator is connected as shown from ringing generator circuit 114 through ballast lamp B21, normally closed contacts 261 of ring trip relay 260, operated contacts 272, terminal R22 to the cathode of cold cathode triode CT21. The anode of cold cathode triode CT21 is connected to a starter anode thereof through resistance RE22 and is also connected to ground through ringer RG22 of superimposed Iinging subset 112. 1n the other subset on the same line as subset 112, the cold cathode triode thereof has its anode connected to the ring terminal and its cathode connected through the ringer thereof to ground, that is, the cathode and anode thereof are connected oppositely from those of cold cathode triode CT21.

`The potential applied to the cathode of cold cathode triode CT21 is the superimposed negative battery on the ringing generator and the A.C. voltage of the ringing generator. Cold cathode triode 21 will conduct only when the cathode thereof is 4negative with respect to the anode ,thereof byV at least a certain voltage. The magnitude of the ringing potential applied to the cathode of cold cathode triode CT21 is such thatcold cathode .triode 21 is permitted to conduct only in the region of is pure alternating current.

thenega-tive peaks of the A.C. componentof vthe superimposed applied potential. Thus, the ringing current which goes through cold cathode triode CT21 to eiect the operation of ringer RGT2 consists of a series of unidirectional pulses occurring once each cycle of the ringing generator frequency, that is, it has a direct current component,y as opposed to the ringing current utilized `tive to the connections of cold .cathode triode CT21.

HSZLof connector 110. are not utilized`.

H' t y When the calledl subscriber at superimposed ringing' subset 112 answers, Vthereby closing hookswitch' H22', anoperating circuit'. foiring trip `relay 260" is completed. This circuit extends from negative battery through the ringing generator,ballastA lamp B21, nornial'- l`y. closed contacts 261, ,operated contacts1272, the ring- Wiper of',connector110;,Y terminal R522, resistanceRE23A operated hookswitch.

erated' contactsv rl2.71, normally closed' contacts 262, and

the top y winding of yring trip relay 2605 tof ground.l

5 The operation of ring trip relay"2r60.providesja hold i'ligpaththerefor through operated contacts 251'and operated preliminary contacts 2653, and transfers the talkingtermnals T22 and R22 from the previously described' ringing circuit to the incoming talking 'conductors and answering bridge relay 240 in a'mannerisimilarto that previously described in connection with connectorv 106.

A comparison of connector 106, with connector 110 will show that, thesetwo connectorszhave, substantially acciughe'- E122; Vterminal T22, the tip'wiperio'f; connector 110', ropithe saine structure, differing yonly in' thatin connector 106 ring trip relay 220V is in series Withf the ringing gen-V erato'r while inconnectjor 1'10 ringl trip'relay 260-is in seriesvvith'the ground return,land thatin conne'ctor'11i0V ya ballast lamp is in series withzthe ringing generator while g in, connector 106 no vballast'jlamp is rempltiys'etl at alli;

The reason for incorporating thering'trip relay nxth'e ground return Vpath in connector1`10, ratherjth'anplacing inxparalleli with therrrn'istor,` T31, the*up'pt'enwinrlirg of" s'l'eeve'relay 500 to grounded battery: *The groundon-` rconductor SN extending'vthroughJ normally' closed cont'actsqlffis alsojapplied4 through normally closed" contacts r301^ andf'resistance YR153?,V to grounded` batteryf Due` L to'thepresence of thermi'stor'T31, the current'lthroughthe Y ppcr`windingof-sleeve rclay300=builds up slowly, so that 'fdoe notfopera'teuntilfaftera certain time-delay. f. Initially, g d'uctor` o"A intercept circuit 116,being 'extendedi thereto- `over aico-nnectionvfromgrounded? battery through re-` ance batterypresentv ony tipA Vconductor T i's extended through terminal T21",l operated contacts 271, normally j closed-l contacts" 262 the upper winding of rin-gk trip relay 260to ground", resulting in` the', operation/of ring ytrip I A relay 1260; As previouslydescribed,v the operationf'of rii'i'g-Y tripA relay 260`r provides Vfor the's establishment of'a holding "-c" cfuit: therefor' extending fromi ground-through operated ,contacts2251 and 263, andv the lower Vwinding of vrin'gxtrrip relay 2'60 to grounded battery.

it yinY series `with the ringing: generator,v as in' Vconnector 10.5, is because, as previouslyY explained, the ringingcur rent in connector N110' consists of a series of unidirectional' pulses havin'g a direct current component'. 'If the ring trip relay were' Vincluded' in series with thevringing generator inconnector 11'0, there wouldlbe a great likelihood that-this direct component of theringingcurrent l pulses'woul'd buildfup enough iiux in thering `tripgrelay to falselyy operate it. Therefore,-it isknecjessary toplace the ring, trip relay in the groundV return. However, in

orderV tok li'rnit the ringing current it is necessaryto clude a ballast lamp in series with tliej ringing generator.

Inthe case 'of connector 106, however, the riugingicur rent, as previously explained', 'consists of pure alternating y current. Therefore, the flux built upV in the ring trip relay during, positive half cycles of the alternating current are counteractedV by the opposite and equal iiux built up during thenega'tive half cycles of the alternating fcurrent. Thus in the case of connector 106, no possibility exists of falselyoperatingrthe ringftrip relay, eventhough lit. is,inseries with the ringingcurrent."Furthermore, theV inherentiresistanceof therring trip. rela'yis sulii'cient tolimitthe ringing current`,lso,that the ballastlarnp, and its attendant cost can be eliminated'.V

Considernow-What.happensE when a calling,k subscriber i dials anv unoccupied orfunassigned line. ofei'ther'connector 106er connector 1102v g YAs shownin Figs. 2 andf3vthe unoccupied tfzrrninal'sl ,'I12, R12, and S12, respectively, of connector 10,6A and v the unoccupied terminals T21, R21 and S21, respectively,

ofconnector 110-,are mult-ipled.to intercept 'v The unoccupiedY terminals'V H812 of connect "umd rough If fa, ycall to an' v unassigned line' Lis extended connector,106,r switchthrough4 relay1230tluereoffisfoper-k Yated and ground is applied throughaoperated,coritacts233 to the SN conductor of intercept ,circuit-.116Inal similarinanner, if a connectionisextended to anA unoccuf piedline'l through connector ,110,1switchthroughrelay 270 thereofgis'operated, and. ground is applied, through operatedcontacts 273 to conductorSNofV intercept circuity The application of ground toconductor SIN-'froth either connector 106 or 110, as the caserr,1ay;'be,y provides, an

energizationl path forsleevel relay 300,:1extending from Y'1`he`operfation of ringtriprelayA 260'- t'ransferslthe resistance battery on tip conductor T of intercepty circuit 116 to the upper Winding of answering bridge relay-240 'through operated *contacts 264'. f However, the current throughthe upper ,winding of answeringV bridge'A relay 24,0 isfinsucient `to-*eiect the operation thereof.

fter the time delay provided; bythermistor T31,

sleeve relay 300V operates; The operation of sleeve relay 300=v causes the closure of normally open,V contacts 303,

$041,305, 306, 307,308-, 309 and 301a thereof, andi the opening of normally closedvcontacts 302,30211, 301 and V30311 thereof.

.Ther opening of contacts 302 removes thel resistance battery, previously described, from the tip conductor T l of'intercept circuit 116. The closure of contacts 302|',

however, applies resistance ground to the ring conductor i R ofA intercept circuit 116. If the connection tointercept circuit 1-16 comes from connector 110, the resistance groundpresent on ring conductor R is further extended through terminal R215, operated contacts 272, normallyl closed contacts 261, ballastlamp B21' to ringing generator circuit 114, wherel itv is without effect. However,

if the connection to intercept circuit 116- comes from connectorv 106, the-'resistance ground onring conductor 'R isiextended through terminal R12, operated contacts 232, normally closed Acontacts 223, thek lower winding of ringtripirelay 220', ringingfgenerator circuit 1-14 tov positive"orf-negative battery, tothereby eiect the operation of ringft-rip'relay' 220. The-operation of ring trip relayV 220 establishes apreviously describedy holding circuit l therefor extending/from ground throughy operated/contacts z 2 11 andr221 and the upperwindi'ngoringtrip-relay`=220 n tor-grounded lbattery'. Theoperation of ring-trip relay Y Y `220"itransfers'theresistance fground'on'the ring conv taneously, istoprevent the operation of 'eithe'ranswering u i Y l bridge relay 200 or 240, as the case mayf. be, after the i `ground on the' SN'conductorA through'normaljly closed;Y i

i contacts 311 ofs witchthrough relayI 310, resistance'ltirllq dictor-R of intercept'circuit 116 from-thec lowerwinding r of ring trip1 relayy 220 to the lower winding ofanswering f bridge.1relay200through operated contacts 222..k Howjever, the current through the lower winding of answering Y bridgeA relay 200 isf` insuicientto etect'the operation thereof` v* i Theqreason for applying resistancebattery tothe'tip i conductor T and resistanceground to the ring conductor Y Rzrof intercept circuit 116 sequentially, rather than simulj'ringj trip'r'eIay. has been operated.vr

"resist-ance'battery'is present on` the tip cnare conventional and well known in the art, they will onlybe described briefly herein in order to complete the discuit for Switchthrough relay 3710 through thermistor T32.-

Switchthrough relay 310 therefore does not operate until aftera certain delay. The closure of contacts 306 provides a shunt about thermistor T31, applying groundv from conductor SN directly to the upper winding of sleeve relay 300 through normally closed contacts 311. After. the time delay provided. by thermistor T32, Switchthrough relay 310 operatesY yto openv normally closed contacts 312 and 311 thereof and to close normally open contacts 313, 314 and 315 thereof.

The opening of contacts 312 prevents the reapplication ofV `resistance battery to the tip conductor T. Theopening of contacts 311 removes operating ground from the upper winding of sleeve relay 300. However, sleeve relay 300 does not immediately release due to its slow release characteristics. The closure of contacts 313 shunts out thermistor T32 from the operating path of Switchthrough relay 310. The closure of contactsr314 providesan operating path for start relay 320 through operated contacts 307 and 314. The closure of contacts 315 prepares a holding path for sleeve relay 300 from conductor TB of tape announcer l11S through normally closed contacts 331 and operated contacts 315 and 308, and the lower winding of sleeve relay 300 togrounded battery. Assuming tape announcer 118 to be idle at the moment, Vground will be present on conductor TB, so that sleeverelay is held operated.

The operation of start relay 320 over its previously described operating path elects the closure of normally open contacts 321, 322, 323, 324 and 325 thereof.

The closure of contacts 321 'prepares a talking-path to tape announcer 118 from tip conductor T through capacitor C31. The closure of contactsv 322 applies ringback tone to tip conductor T through capacitor C32 and operated contacts 322 and 303. The closure of contacts 323 prepares a talking path from ring conductor R to tape announcer 118 through capacitance C33. T he closure of contacts 324 prepare holding path for start relay'320. The closure of contacts 325 applies a start .ground to tape announcer 118 over a connection extend .ing from ground through operated contacts 309 and 325, normally closed contacts 333 to conductor ST of tape announcer 118.

In response to the application of the start ground thereto, tape announcer 113 initiates a cycle of operation, playing back the prerecorded message therein. As soon as a cycle begins, ground is removed from the TB con- -ductor and applied to the SL conductor of tape announcer 11S. The removal of ground from the TB conductor, deenergizes the holding circuit for the lower winding of sleeve relay 300, but this relay does not release immediately due to its slow release characteristics.

Y Holding relay 340 operates in response to the application of ground thereto from the sleeve conductor'of tape announcer 118, thereby closing normally open contacts V341, 342 and 343 thereof.

v The closure vof contacts 342 causes the energization relay '330 over a connection extending from ground through operated contacts 301a and 342, normally closed contacts 332, the upper winding of cutoli'f relay 330 to .grounded battery. The closure of contacts 343- enervgizes the lower winding of diierentially wound cutoff.

After a period determined by its slow release characteristics, sleeve relay 300 restores. vThe reclosing of .of the upper'winding of differentially wound cuto contacts 302 and 302a complete the previously prepared talking connection between tape announcer 11S and the calling subscriber. The opening of contacts 307 breaks the previously described operating path for start relayf 320, but start relay 320 remains operated because ground is applied thereto through operated contacts 341 and` 324, normally closed contacts 303a, operated contacts 314, the winding o f start relay 3 20to grounded battery.V

VThe opening of normally opencoutacts 301a Vbreaksfthe tacts 331, 332 and 333 thereof and closes normally open' contacts 334 and 335 thereof. A

v As will become clearer later, the purpose of cutoff relay 332 is to prevent other intercept circuits having access to tape announcer 118 from being connected thereto during the interval that tape announcer 118 is in the middle of a playback cycle.

At the end of the playback cycle of tape announcer` 118, ground is removed from conductor SL of tape announcer 11S, deenergizing holdingrelay 340, so that this relay restores. The restoration of holding relay 340 opens contacts 343 thereof, breaking the energizing path for cutoi relay 330, which'also restores. of contacts 341 break the energizing path for start relay 320, which then releases. Switchthrough relay 310 remains operated, however, until the calling subscriberk hangs up, thereby preventing the reoperation of sleeve relay 300. Thus, the calling subscriber hears the pre# recorded message of tape announcer 118 Yduring only one complete playback cycle thereof.

Assume now that when Switchthrough relay 310 of in'- tercept circuit 116 operates, tape announcer 118 is in the middle of a playback cycle to some other intercept previously described, since contacts 333 are now open,

but instead is applied to the start conductor of the common supervisory circuit through operated contacts 335. If this ground remains for longer than a given period, which is more than suflcient for a playback cycle, it causes the operation of an alarm in the common supervisory circuit.

As previously described, at the end of a playback cycle of tape announcer 118,' holding relay 340 and in turn cutoff relay Y330 are restored.

Tape announcer 118 is now in an idle condition, and is seized byintercept circuit 116, as well as by any other intercept` circuits lwhose Switchthrough relays operated during the previous playback cycle, in the manner described above.V

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been described, it is not intendedfthat the invention be restricted thereto, but that it `be ofthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a telephone system, a rst connector having first and second outgoing conductors and current-operated ring trip means in circuit with said first outgoing conductor, a second connector having rst and second outgoing conductors and current-operated ring trip means in circuit with said second outgoing conductor, automatic means seizable by said first or second connector and having first and second incoming conductors which are connected respectively to ,Said :rst and second outgoing conductors The openingv limited only by the scopeV Y of the seizing connector, and lsaid automatic means hav- Aing potential applying means for successively applying aY potential to, each conductor of said rst'an'd second incoming conductors Vto eect the operation of said yring trip means in response to the seizure of said automatic means by said rst or second connector vregardless of the conductor with which said ring trip means is associated.

2. The combination defined in claim l, wherein said potential applying means Vcomprises means for applyingY first and second incoming conductors.

incoming rst and second conductors to arsecond portion thereof, means including a rst resistancefor applying said rst potential to said second portion of said rst conductor, a second resistance for applying said second potentialy to said rst portion of said second conductorV through said normallyl open contacts, vdelay means in series with said winding, and means responsive to the seizure of said automatic means `for applying an energizing signal to said winding through said delay'means vto Y effect the operation of saidgrelay after a time delay. l

5. The combination defined in'claim 4, wherein said Y delay means'is a thermistor.

3. The combination defined in claim 2, wherein saidr -tential hasl a polarity opposite to said given polarity.Y

4. The combination defined in claim 72, wherein said potential-applying means includes a relay having a wind- -ing and atleast first `and second normally closed contacts.

and normally open contacts, said first normally closed contacts connecting a rst portion of said first conductor of said incoming rst and second conductors to a second portion thereof, said second normally closed contacts connecting a irst portion of said second conductor of said r`rst potential has a given polarity and said second po- 6. The combination delned in claim 4, wherein. said irst potential has a given polarity and said second potential has a polarity opposite to said given polarity.

7. The combination defined in claim V4, wherein said vrelay includes second normally open contacts, and means -t for applying ring-back tone to said rst portionof said rst conductor through said second normally open com` tacts when said relay is operated.

Y References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Davidson t Jury 23, 1940 2,209,513 Davidson July 30, 1940 

